Counter for boots and shoes.



G. L. PEBBLE.

COUNTER FOR BOOTS AND SHOES.

APPLICATION FILED IA]!- 30. 1907.

PATENTED SEPT. 24, 1907.

lf zltesscs [we/aton- OZQ X. flL/Q m m M W UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.GEORGE L. PREBLE, OF. LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

COUNTER FOR BOOTS AND SHOES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented as. 24, 1907.

, Application ifledlsrch 30, 1907. Serial No. 365,565-

. which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to heel stiffeners or counters for boots and shoes. 1

It has been customary heretofore in the manufacture of boots and shoes to form the heel stiffeners or counters from leather or leather board according to the grade of boots or shoes being manufactured. The leather and leather board from which these counters are formed as well as the cements and pastes used in.

many cases in securing the parts of the stiffeners together is so affected by moisture either from thefeet or other sources that the counters frequently become distorted and broken down thus spoiling the appearance of the shoe and causing discomfort to the wearer. The action of the perspiration from the feet or of other moisture upon the leather or leather board also causes an objectionable discoloration and rotting of the lining of the shoe at the heel. Although various attempts have been made toproduce a stiffener which would be free from these objections none of the proposed stiffeners have, so far as I am aware, proved satisfactory or met the approval of the manufacturers who continue 3 to use the leather and leather board counters.

, of a thin sheet of celluloid or similar pyroxylin compound molded to the desired shape and a sheet of fabric or other suitable reinforcing material permanently secured thereto by an intermingling of the celluloid with the fibers of the reinforcing material. This counter is light and serviceable, it is absolutely water proof, it is resilient and yet as stiff .or stiffer than'a high grade counter of sole leather, it can be incorporated in a shoe in the ordinary manner and can be held securely and.

permanently in place by the usual fasteningdevices,

the upper edge of the counter will always retain sulficient stiffness to cling tightly to the foot of the wearer, and the entire counter will retain permanently the shape imparted to it during the molding operation.

.ric to the opposite surfaces of the sheet.

The layer of reinforcing material may form either the outer or the inner surface of the counter. vIt is preferred however to have the reinforcing material on the.

outer surface of the cou'nter and to provide-the inner surface of the counter with a sheet or layer of cushioning material united to the celluloid in thesame manner as the reinforcing material. This layer of cushioning material may also serve as a reinforce to the counter.

In thus uniting the materials from which the counter isformed I dip the sheet of celluloid or other waterproof material in a chemical which will partially dissolve and soften the surfaces of the sheet and then apply the cushioning material and strengthening fab- Owing to the plastic or semi-plastic state of the immediate surfaces of the sheet of celluloid the surfaces of the other materials become embedded in and intermingled with the celluloid thus uniting the parts into an integral whole. The parts may be thus united before or after they are cut into the proper form for molding. In either case the blank made up of the united materials is molded into the proper shape while the waterproof material forming the stiffening body of the counter is at the proper temper.

The construction of the counter will be readily understood from the foregoing and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective View of a counter embodying all the features of the invention in their preferred forms. Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the center of the counter; and Fig. 3 is a View showing a blank before it is bent or molded.

As shown in the drawings the stiffening body of the. l

counter or heel stiffener consists of a thin sheet 1 of celluloid or similar pyroxylin compound. The inner surface of the counter consists of a cushioning material 2 such as flannel, felt, or leather, which is united with the stiffening sheet. This cushioning material serves to render the shoe more comfortable to the wearer and also protects the lining of the shoe against wear. The stiffening body 1 is strengthened and rendered more tenacious by an outer covering of woven or other textile fabric 3 united therewith.

.The stiffening sheet, cushioning material and strengthening material may be cut to proper shape and then united, preferably in the manner already described, to form the blank shown in Fig. 3 or the materials may be first united and then the blank cut' from the united materials. In either case the blank is bent or molded into the desired shape indicated in 1. A heel stiffener for boots and shoe eonsistinf of a thin sheet of celluloid molded to the required shape, and

a sheet of reinforcing material permanently secured thereto by an intermingling of the celluloid with the fibers 0 15 the reinforcing material.

2. A heel stiffener for boots and shoes consisting of a. thin sheet of celluloid molded to the required shape, a. sheet of reinforcing material upon the outer surface 0! said celluloid sheet and a sheet of cushioning material' 20 upon the inner surface of said celluloid sheet, said sheets being permanently united by an intermingling of the celluloid with the reinforcing and cushioning material.

In testlmony'whereof I atfix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE L. PREBLE. Witnesses:

FRED O. Frsn, ALFRED H. Hrnnnnzrrr. 

